Coordination Chemistry of Bioactive Metal Complexes

Coordination chemistry of bioactive metal complexes explores the binding interactions between metal centres and organic or inorganic ligands to yield compounds with therapeutic potential. The metal centre can confer unique redox, structural and electronic properties, while the ligand framework governs solubility, target affinity and cellular uptake. This synergy has yielded a diverse portfolio of metallodrugs, spanning anticancer agents that cleave DNA, anti-inflammatory compounds that modulate enzyme activity, and antimicrobial complexes that disrupt microbial membranes or enzymes. Advances in ligand design, including polydentate chelators, metallo-nuclease scaffolds and heterocyclic platforms, have refined control over coordination geometry and reactivity. Contemporary research emphasises stimuli-responsive behaviour, enabling selective activation under specific biochemical conditions, as well as the integration of computational methods for rational design. Collectively, these developments underpin a global thrust towards precision metallopharmaceuticals and highlight the practical applications of coordination chemistry in addressing pressing health challenges.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated that copper(ii) complexes constructed on benzimidazole-derived ligands possess dual anticancer and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory properties. These complexes have been fully characterised by spectroscopic and crystallographic methods, exhibiting high affinity for human serum albumin and elevated cytotoxicity against carcinoma cell lines through reactive oxygen species generation and glutathione depletion. In vivo evaluation in rodent models confirmed significant anti-inflammatory effects, mirroring clinical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Such work exemplifies how fine-tuning of ligand electronics and chelation modes can enhance both therapeutic efficacy and target selectivity in metallodrug development.

Coordination Chemistry of Bioactive Metal Complexes publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in coordination chemistry of bioactive metal complexes across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Coordination complex: a compound composed of a central metal ion bonded to surrounding ligands, forming a discrete entity with specific geometry.

Ligand: a molecule or ion that donates one or more pairs of electrons to a central metal ion to form a coordination bond.

Metallo-nuclease: a metal complex engineered to bind and cleave nucleic acids through catalytic or oxidative mechanisms.

Schiff base: an imine ligand formed by condensation of an amine with a carbonyl, often used to coordinate metal centres.

Chelation: the process by which a ligand forms multiple bonds to a single metal ion, enhancing complex stability.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): highly reactive oxygen-containing molecules that can mediate oxidative damage in biological systems.

References

1. Copper(II) complexes as potential anticancer and Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents: In vitro and in vivo studies. Scientific Reports (2019).
2. A Click Chemistry‐Based Artificial Metallo‐Nuclease. Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2023).
3. New Antimicrobial Strategies Based on Metal Complexes. Chemistry (2020).
4. Metal Complexes of Quinolone Antibiotics and Their Applications: An Update. Molecules (2013).